"He's worked hard. He's been in and out. He's gonna get an opportunity to get back in and we'll see where his minutes go," said Cassidy. "We'd like to have a guy that can fill some of that [Backes] role. What does that mean, a big body?
"Well, it means applying pressure on your defense, knowing that if they're gonna come out of their zone they're gonna have to go through bodies. It means in the defensive zone getting in and clogging up lanes, winning your board battles and being a little bit abrasive so that they know someone is breathing down their neck."
When Beleskey has been in the lineup this season - he's played in six games without a point - he's been slotted in mostly a bottom-six role, where creating energy and providing some grit is expected.
"He does have size, especially with Backes out now he can add a dimensions of abrasiveness that we miss when he goes out," said Cassidy. "I think he's in a good frame of mind for the most part."
Beleskey concurred. The winger said that during his time out of the lineup he has focused on keeping the mental part of his game in check.
"You've just got to play your game and play it hard. Play with confidence," said Beleskey, who skated alongside Sean Kuraly and Frank Vatrano during Wednesday's practice. "That's the hard part of being in and out of the lineup is not getting much ice, keeping your confidence up.
"You've got to be mentally strong and I think I've done a decent job of that so far. Tonight, just gotta go out there, play with that confidence and play hard."
